Dianthus plant named ‘Wicked Witch’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Dianthus  plant named ‘WICKED WITCH’ that is characterized by pronounced compact habit, narrow grey-green foliage, and bright cherry-red flowers. In combination these traits set ‘WICKED WITCH’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Dianthus  known to the inventor.

Genus: DIANTHUS.

Species: gratianopolitanus

Denomination: ‘WICKED WITCH’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of carnation or hardy pink that is grown for use as a flowering plant for pots and containers and for planting in the garden or landscape. The new cultivar is known botanically as Dianthus gratianopolitanus and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name of ‘WICKED WITCH’.

‘WICKED WITCH’ arose as a naturally occurring whole plant sport which the inventor discovered growing in a cultivated border in April 2002 at the inventor's nursery in Raleigh, N.C. The plant had been established while juvenile and nonflowering as the pink-flowered variety Dianthus gratianopolitanus, ‘Feuerhexe’ (not patented). ‘Feuerhexe’ is commonly known in the United States by its translated equivalent ‘Firewitch’. The observed plant bore red flowers and the inventor determined that this observed plant was clearly distinguishable from ‘Feuerhexe’ by its flower color.

‘WICKED WITCH’ exhibits pronounced dense compact habit, blue-green foliage, and rich magenta flowers. It blooms profusely in the spring with a second bloom in the fall. The foliage forms a dense mat spreading to 15 cm to 20 cm in height and width.

‘WICKED WITCH’ differs from its parent plant in the color of its petals. The petals of ‘Feuerhexe’ are colored bright pink at maturity. The petals of ‘WICKED WITCH’ are colored red-purple at maturity. Like its parent ‘Feuerhexe’, ‘WICKED WITCH’ shares extreme durable and landscape toughness forming dense highly branched mats of foliage which endure during periods of excessive summer heat. ‘WICKED WITCH’ also closely resembles Dianthus ‘Red Dwarf’ (U.S. Pat. No. 14,437) and Dianthus ‘Devon Xera’ (U.S. Pat. No. 14,895). However, the petal colors of ‘WICKED WITCH’ fall into the red-purple class while ‘Red Dwarf’ and ‘Devon Xera’ are classified as red.

Asexual reproduction of ‘Wicked Witch’ was first accomplished by the inventor in 2004 in a cultivated area of Raleigh, N.C. The method of asexual propagation used was basal shoot cuttings. Since that time the characteristics of the new cultivar have been determined stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new Dianthus cultivar ‘WICKED WITCH’. These traits in combination distinguish this cultivar from all other commercial varieties known to the inventor. ‘WICKED WITCH’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. Dianthus ‘WICKED WITCH’ exhibits a pronounced compact habit.     -   2. Dianthus ‘WICKED WITCH’ blooms profusely and repeatedly.     -   3. Dianthus ‘WICKED WITCH’ exhibits rich magenta flowers.     -   4. Dianthus ‘WICKED WITCH’ exhibits blue-green foliage.     -   5. At maturity, the height and width of the foliage mound of         Dianthus ‘WICKED WITCH’ ranges from 15 cm to 20 cm.     -   6. Dianthus ‘WICKED WITCH’ is a perennial which is hardy to USDA         Zone 3.     -   7. Dianthus ‘WICKED WITCH’ is suitable for use as a flowering         plant in pots and containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dianthus variety ‘WICKED WITCH’ showing colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the drawings may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety ‘WICKED WITCH’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 depicts an entire flowering plant at approximately 6 months.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the flowers.

All drawings were made of plants grown in open ground in Raleigh, N.C. No chemicals were used to treat the plants. All drawings were made using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance they are as accurate as possible by conventional photography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar ‘WICKED WITCH’. Data was collected in spring from 3 inch container plants that had been grown outdoors partially in shade houses in Raleigh, N.C. The color determinations are in accordance with the 2001 edition of the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart of the Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. No chemicals were used to treat the plants. Growing conditions are typical to other Dianthus.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus ‘WICKED WITCH’. -   Species: gratianopolitanus. -   Common name: Dwarf carnation. -   Commercial classification: Perennial dianthus or Cheddar pinks -   Type: Perennial. -   Use: Used as a flowering plant for pots and containers. -   Parentage: ‘WICKED WITCH’ is a sport arising from a crop of Dianthus     ‘Feuerhexe’. -   Plant description:     -   -   Bloom period.—Spring and again in the autumn.         -   Plant habit.—Mat forming, herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant dimensions at 6 months.—15 cm to 20 cm in height and             width.         -   Plant hardiness.—Hardy to Zone 3.         -   Root system.—Fibrous.         -   Propagation.—Basal cuttings.         -   Cultural requirements.—Grow in full sun, with moderate             water, and well-drained, moderately fertile soil.         -   Diseases and Pests.—Susceptible to known Dianthus pests and             disease but no other susceptibilities to pests or disease             are known to the inventor. Like its parent ‘Feuerhexe’, it             is very tolerant of heat, drought, and other stressful             growing conditions which gives it the ability to withstand             attack from pests and diseases more readily than many other             perennial dianthus.         -   Time and temperature needed to produce a rooted cutting.—2             weeks are needed to produce roots on cuttings using a mist             propagation unit with bottom heat of 20° Centigrade, and a             minimum air temperature of 15° Centigrade.         -   Crop time.—An average of 2-4 months is needed to produce a             finished 10 cm container size plant from a well-rooted             cutting. -   Stem:     -   -   Shape.—Terete.         -   Color.—120D from waxy deposits; 137B when wax is rubbed off.         -   Dimensions.—80 mm to 90 mm in length, 1 mm to 2 mm in width.         -   Internode length.—3 mm to 10 mm for non-flowering shoots; up             to 50 mm for flowering shoots.         -   Surface.—Glabrous and glaucous.         -   Node color.—144A.         -   Node dimensions.—2 mm in length and 3 mm in width.         -   Branching.—Numerous basal breaks. -   Leaves:     -   -   Type.—Evergreen.         -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Dimensions.—24 mm to 45 mm in length and 3 mm to 4 mm in             width.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Decurrent and somewhat perfoliate.         -   Color (abaxial and adaxial surfaces).—122B to 122C.         -   Venation.—Not prominent; very finely reticulate upon 10×             magnification.         -   Margins.—Appears entire, but very finely serrulate upon             close inspection.         -   Attachment.—Sheathing.         -   Arrangement.—Opposite and decussate.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Form.—Cymose.         -   Quantity of flowers per stem.—1 to 2.         -   Type.—Salverform, single, symmetrical (actinomorphic).         -   Length (including pedicel and calyx).—30 mm to 60 mm.         -   Diameter.—25 mm to 30 mm.         -   Fragrance.—Weakly sweet-scented, clove-like.         -   Anthocyanin color (where present).—71A.         -   Bud color.—145A to N144A on basal portions; 122B on apical             portions.         -   Bud shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Bud dimensions.—15 mm in length and 5 mm in width.         -   Petals.—Description: Persistent, single, overlapping.             Number: Mostly 5. Dimensions: 3.0 cm in length, 1.5 cm in             width. Margin: Dentate with dentations 3 mm deep. Limb             shape: Strongly obovate to obdeltoid/spatulate; upwardly             revolute. Surface (upper): Bearing sparsely scattered             ciliate to mucronate hairs. Surface (lower): Glabrous Shape:             Rounded blade-like “limb” (protruding from the tube of the             flower) with a strap-like base, called a “claw” (enclosed             within the tube of the flower). Color of petal limb (newly             opened flowers, adaxial surface): N66B. Color of petal limb             (older flowers, adaxial surface): 61B to 60B. Color of petal             limb (new and old flowers, abaxial surface): 67B. Color of             petal claw (new and old flowers, both surfaces): 145C.         -   Calyx.—Dimensions: 17 mm in length and 7 mm in width. Color             of tube: 91B. Color of anthocyanin: N77A. Texture (both             surfaces): Smooth, glabrous, Calyx fused or unfused: Fused.             Number of lobes: 5. Color of lobes: 91B.         -   Peduncle.—Dimensions: 12 mm to 40 mm in length and 7 mm in             width. Color: 120D with waxy deposits, 137B underneath waxy             layer. Surface: Glaucous.         -   Bracts.—Number of epicalyx bracts: 2 individual bracts (1             pair). Shape of apical lobe of bract: Obtuse. Dimensions: 5             mm in length and 5 mm in width. Color: 137A to 137D. Color             of anthocyanin: N77A.         -   Bracteoles.—(Number of bracteoles: 2 individual bracteoles             (1 pair). Dimensions: 4 mm in length and 2 mm to 3 mm in             width. Apex shape: Acute. Anthocyanin present or absent:             Absent.         -   Stipules.—None present.         -   Lastingness of flowers.—Not grown as a cut flower.         -   Reproductive organs.—Number of stamens: 10. Stamen             dimensions: 20 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width. Filament             color: 72A at apical portion; 192D at basal portion. Number             of anthers: 10. Pollen amount: Low to moderate. Pollen             color: 192D. Pistil nature: Single pistil dividing in two             above ovary. Pistil dimensions: 22 mm in length and 3 mm in             width. Number of styles: 2. Style dimensions: 12 mm in             length and <0.5 mm in width. Style color: 72A at apical             portion; white at basal half. Number of stigmas: 2 Stigma             color: White and 72A. Stigma shape: Bifid Height of stigma             above petals: 8 mm. Ovary disposition: Superior. Ovary             dimensions: 10 mm in length and 3 mm in width. Ovary shape:             Cylindrical. Ovary color: 145A.         -   Seed.—None observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant named ‘WICKED WITCH’ as described and illustrated herein. 